H. R. 276 

One Hundred Sixteenth Congress 

of the 

United States of America 

AT THE FIRST SESSION 

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday, 

the third day of January, two thousand and nineteen 

An Act 

To direct the Secretary of Education to establish the Recognizing Inspiring School 

Employees (RISE) Award Program recognizing excellence exhibited by classified 

school employees providing services to students in prekindergarten through high 

school. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Recognizing Achievement in 

Classified School Employees Act’’. 

SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

Congress finds the following: 

(1) Classified school employees provide valuable service 

in the United States. 

(2) Classified school employees provide essential services, 

such as transportation, facilities maintenance and operations, 

food service, safety, and health care. 

(3) Classified school employees play a vital role in providing 

for the welfare and safety of students. 

(4) Classified school employees strive for excellence in all 

areas of service to the education community. 

(5) Exemplary classified school employees should be recognized for their outstanding contributions to quality education 

in the United States. 

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

In this Act: 

(1) CLASSIFIED SCHOOL EMPLOYEE.—The term ‘‘classified 

school employee’’ means an employee of a State or of any 

political subdivision of a State, or an employee of a nonprofit 

entity, who works in any grade from prekindergarten through 

high school in any of the following occupational specialties: 

(A) Paraprofessional, including paraeducator services. 

(B) Clerical and administrative services. 

(C) Transportation services. 

(D) Food and nutrition services. 

(E) Custodial and maintenance services. 

(F) Security services. 

(G) Health and student services. 

(H) Technical services. 

(I) Skilled trades. 
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(2) OTHER DEFINITIONS.—The terms used in this Act have 

the meanings given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary 

and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 

SEC. 4. RECOGNITION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Education shall establish 

a national recognition program to be known as the ‘‘Recognizing 

Inspiring School Employees Award Program’’ or the ‘‘award program’’. The purpose of the award program shall be to recognize 

and promote the commitment and excellence exhibited by classified 

school employees who provide exemplary service to students in 

prekindergarten through high school. 

(b) AWARD.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Prior to May 31 of each year (beginning 

with the second calendar year that begins after the date of 

the enactment of this Act), the Secretary shall select a classified 

school employee to receive the Recognizing Inspiring School 

Employees Award for the year. 

(2) NON-MONETARY VALUE.—The award and recognition provided under this Act shall have no monetary value. 

(c) SELECTION PROCESS.— 

(1) NOMINATION PROCESS.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than November 1 of each 

year (beginning with the first calendar year that begins 

after the date of the enactment of this Act), the Secretary 

shall solicit nominations of classified school employees from 

the occupational specialties described in section 3(1) from 

the Governor of each State. 

(B) NOMINATION SUBMISSIONS.—In order for individuals 

in a State to be eligible to receive recognition under this 

section, the Governor of the State shall consider nominations submitted by the following: 

(i) Local educational agencies. 

(ii) School administrators. 

(iii) Professional associations. 

(iv) Labor organizations. 

(v) Educational service agencies. 

(vi) Nonprofit entities. 

(vii) Parents and students. 

(viii) Any other group determined appropriate by 

the Secretary. 

(2) DEMONSTRATION.—Each Governor of a State who desires 

individuals in the State to receive recognition under this section 

shall submit the nominations described in paragraph (1) to 

the Secretary in such manner as may be required by the 

Secretary. Each such nomination shall contain, at a minimum, 

demonstrations of excellence in the following areas: 

(A) Work performance. 

(B) School and community involvement. 

(C) Leadership and commitment. 

(D) Local support. 

(E) Enhancement of classified school employees’ image 

in the community and schools. 

(3) SELECTION.—The Secretary shall develop uniform 

national guidelines for evaluating nominations submitted under 

paragraph (2) in order to select the most deserving nominees 
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based on the demonstrations made in the areas described in 

such paragraph. 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.